Contents of Legal Records: Case Introductions

Introduction to the Legal Records Series

Part 1: New York and Pennsylvania

Introduction to Joseph Smith’s New York and Pennsylvania Legal Cases

Chenango Co., NY, Justice of the Peace Court

State of New York v. JS–A, 20 March 1826

State of New York v. JS–B, 29 June 1830

Broome Co., NY, Court of Special Sessions of the Peace

State of New York v. JS–C, 30 June 1830

Ontario Co., NY, Court of Common Pleas

Joseph Smith Sr. v. J. Hurlbut, circa August 1819

Susquehanna Co., PA, Court of Common Pleas

George H. Noble & Co. v. JS, circa 29 November 1830

Part 2: Ohio

Introduction to Joseph Smith’s Ohio Legal Cases

Geauga Co., OH, Justice of the Peace Courts

Usher v. JS–A, 15 March 1837

Fisher v. Stratton, 29 June 1837

C. Lake for the use of Quinn v. Millet et al., 10 July 1837

Millet for the use of JS v. Woodstock, 20 July 1837

Rigdon, Smith & Cowdery for the use of JS v. Woodworth, circa 31 July 1837

Cahoon, Carter & Co. for the use of JS v. Avery, 5 August 1837

Usher v. JS–B, 17 August 1837

Cahoon, Carter & Co. for the use of JS v. Draper, circa August 1837

State of Ohio v. Ritch, 14 September 1837

Foster Sr. v. Luke Johnson et al., 23 December 1837

Bump v. JS, circa 1 January 1838

Bump v. S. Smith and JS, 2 January 1838

M. Allen v. JS et al., 8 January 1838

Wilder and Strong v. Rounds, 18 January 1838

W. W. Spencer v. Cahoon et al., circa 25 January 1838

Geauga Co., OH, Court of Common Pleas

J. Johnson v. Remonstrants, 5 April 1834

State of Ohio v. D. P. Hurlbut, 9 April 1834

D. Lake v. JS, 19 June 1835

State of Ohio v. JS for Assault and Battery, 20 June 1835

Rounds qui tam v. JS, 10 February 1837

Martindale v. JS et al., 5 June 1837

E. Holmes v. Dayton et al., 5 June 1837

G. Patterson and J. Patterson v. Cahoon, Carter & Co. and Rigdon, Smith & Cowdery, 5 June 1837

Bank of Geauga v. JS et al., 6 June 1837

Kelley v. Rigdon, Smith & Cowdery, 6 June 1837

State of Ohio v. JS for Threatening to Take Life, 10 June 1837

Bailey, Keeler & Remsen v. JS and O. Cowdery, circa September 1837, not litigated

Newbould v. Rigdon, Smith & Cowdery, 24 October 1837

JS for the use of J. Hitchcock and J. R. Hitchcock v. Cheney, 24 October 1837

Seymour & Griffith v. Rigdon and JS, circa 24 October 1837

Barker for the use of Bump v. JS and O. Cowdery, circa 24 October 1837

Eaton v. JS and O. Cowdery, 27 October 1837

Boynton and Hyde v. JS, 3 April 1838

Commercial Bank of Lake Erie v. Cahoon et al., 3 April 1838

Stannard v. Young et al., 3 April 1838

Wright v. Rigdon et al., circa 3 April 1838

L. Holmes and C. Holmes v. JS and Cahoon, circa 3 April 1838

M. Allen v. O. Granger, 4 June 1838

Bailey & Reynolds v. Rigdon et al., 4 June 1838

Stannard v. Young and JS, 3 October 1838

JS for the use of J. Granger v. Smalling and Coltrin, 8 November 1838

Underwood, Bald, Spencer & Hufty v. Rigdon et al., 16 April 1839

Halsted, Haines & Co. v. O. Granger et al., circa 16 April 1839

Rigdon et al. for the use of L. Cowdery v. W. Smith, 12 November 1839

Scribner v. Rigdon, Smith & Cowdery, circa 20 October 1840

Bump Administrator of the Estate of Stannard v. Young and JS, circa 4 October 1842

Lake Co., OH, Court of Common Pleas

Russell v. JS et al., 18 March 1844

Part 3: Missouri

Introduction to Joseph Smith’s Missouri Legal Cases

Boone Co., MO, Circuit Court

State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Riot, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. Baldwin et al. for Arson, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Arson, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. Worthington et al. for Larceny, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. JS for Receiving Stolen Goods, 5 August 1840

State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder, 5 August 1840

Caldwell Co., MO, Circuit Court

Boosinger v. JS et al., 10 November 1839

Boosinger v. O. Cowdery et al., 12 November 1839

Clay Co., MO, Circuit Court

JS v. McLellin, 21 August 1839

St. Louis Co., MO, Circuit Court

JS v. Brotherton, 22 September 1843

Part 4: Illinois

Introduction to Joseph Smith’s Illinois Legal Cases

Nauvoo, IL, Mayor’s Court: Civil Cases

Parker v. S. Foster, 25 July 1842

Harwood v. A. Brown, 1 September 1842

Copeland v. A. Brown, 5 September 1842

Canfield v. Morey, 26 December 1842

Saunders v. T. Dixon, circa 4 February 1844

Nauvoo, IL, Mayor’s Court: Violations of City Ordinances

City of Nauvoo v. Markham, 9 November 1841

City of Nauvoo v. H. Rhodes, 5 July 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Walker, 5 July 1842

City of Nauvoo v. McGraw and White, 2 August 1842

City of Nauvoo v. W. Thompson, 2 August 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of Miles, 6 December 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Anderson et al., 17 December 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Clements and N. Tanner, 19 December 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Clements et al., 22 December 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Withers, 9 February 1844

City of Nauvoo v. Bostwick, 26 February 1844

City of Nauvoo v. Easton, 1 April 1844

City of Nauvoo v. C. L. Higbee et al., 26 April 1844

City of Nauvoo v. R. D. Foster–C, circa 9 May 1844

Nauvoo, IL, Mayor’s Court: Violations of State Statutes

State of Illinois v. Eagle–A, 25 October 1841

State of Illinois v. Little, 25 July 1842

State of Illinois v. D. Brown and Edwards, 15 November 1842

State of Illinois v. Olney, 10 February 1843

Hancock Co., IL, Justice of the Peace Courts

State of Illinois v. Unknown Defendant, 19 June 1840

State of Illinois v. Owsley et al., 11 July 1840

Niswanger v. Greene, 18 December 1840

JS v. Shearer, 26 February 1842

State of Illinois v. Tubbs, 27 July 1842

State of Illinois v. Goddard et al., 6 February 1843

State of Illinois v. Dayley and McMellin, 17 June 1843

State of Illinois v. JS for Assault and Battery, 1 August 1843

State of Illinois v. Elliott–A, 18 December 1843

State of Illinois v. Elliott–B, 18 December 1843

State of Illinois v. Eagle–B, 22 December 1843

R. D. Foster v. Hawn, 15 January 1844

State of Illinois v. Sympson, 17 January 1844

State of Illinois v. Rolfe, 28 March 1844

JS v. Emmons, 7 June 1844

State of Illinois v. JS et al. for Riot–B, 17 June 1844

State of Illinois v. JS et al. for Riot–A, 27 June 1844

State of Illinois v. JS and H. Smith for Treason, 27 June 1844

Nauvoo, IL, Municipal Court

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A, 10 March 1842

City of Nauvoo v. McGraw, 2 August 1842

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–B, 30 November 1842

State of Illinois v. J. Hoopes and L. Hoopes on Habeas Corpus, 5 April 1843

Extradition of JS for Treason, 1 July 1843

State of Illinois v. Finch on Habeas Corpus, 24 November 1843

City of Nauvoo v. F. M. Higbee, 16 January 1844

State of Illinois v. Greene et al. on Habeas Corpus, 3 April 1844

City of Nauvoo v. A. Spencer, 3 June 1844

City of Nauvoo v. C. L. Higbee, 3 June 1844

Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court

Singley v. Rigdon, 6 May 1841

Miller et al. v. B. Holladay and W. Holladay, 7 May 1841

Hibbard for the use of Hungerford & Livingston v. Miller and JS, 8 May 1841

Gray v. A. Allen, 10 May 1841

Sweeney v. Miller et al., 5 May 1842

Robinson v. C. Granger, 6 May 1842

State of Illinois v. C. L. Higbee, circa September 1842

M. F. Thompson v. F. Dixon and E. Dixon, 17 May 1843

City of Nauvoo v. Hunter, 23 May 1843

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Assault, 23 May 1843

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–C, 23 May 1843

City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Ardent Spirits, 24 May 1843

Butterfield v. Mills, 17 October 1843

Clayton v. E. W. Rhodes et al., 21 October 1843

W. Schwartz et al. v. JS, circa October 1843, not litigated

Bostwick v. JS and Greene, 20 May 1844

State of Illinois v. R. D. Foster, 20 May 1844

Niswanger v. Wight and Jett, 23 May 1844

F. M. Higbee v. JS–A, 23 May 1844

State of Illinois v. Colton, 25 May 1844

Dana v. Brink, 27 May 1844

Bostwick v. JS, 27 May 1844

Davis v. JS et al., 21 October 1844

State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury, 21 October 1844

State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication, 21 October 1844

Dana v. Brink et al., 23 October 1844

JS v. O. Cowdery, 29 October 1844

State of Illinois v. Drown, 20 May 1845

Phelps, Assignee of JS v. Wilson Law, 21 May 1845

City of Nauvoo v. C. A. Foster, 21 October 1845

City of Nauvoo v. R. D. Foster–A, 21 October 1845

JS et al. v. C. B. Street and M. B. Street, circa 22 May 1846

Lee Co., IL, Circuit Court

JS v. Reynolds and Wilson–B, circa 26 June 1843

JS v. Reynolds and Wilson–A, 10 May 1844

McDonough Co., IL, Circuit Court

C. A. Foster v. JS and Coolidge, circa August 1844

F. M. Higbee v. JS–B, circa August 1844

Sympson v. JS, circa August 1844

Warren Co., IL, Circuit Court

Extradition of JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes, 10 June 1841

Adams Co., IL, Probate Court

JS Guardian of Maria Lawrence et al., 4 June 1841

U.S. Criminal Court of the District of Columbia

United States v. Jeremiah Smith, 6 May 1859

U.S. District Court for the District of IL

United States v. Haws et al., 11 June 1842

Extradition of JS for Accessory to Assault, 5 January 1843

Part 5: Assassination and Estate

Introduction to the Trial of the Accused Assassins and the Estate of Joseph Smith

Assassination

State of Illinois v. Elliott–C, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Justice of the Peace Court, 12 February 1845

State of Illinois v. Williams et al., Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 30 May 1845

Illinois Estate

E. Smith Administratrix of the Estate of JS, 1844

E. Smith Administratrix of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Probate Court, 1844

W. & W. Law v. E. Smith Administratrix of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 25 October 1844

Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS, 1844–1848

Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Probate Court, 1844–1848

Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS, Assignee of Buckwalter v. William Law, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 21 May 1845

Ivins v. E. Smith et al., Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 21 October 1845

Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS v. Reynolds and Wilson, Lee Co., IL, Circuit Court, 18 December 1845

Babbitt Guardian of James Lawrence et al. v. William Law et al., Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 19 May 1846

Maria Lawrence et al. v. Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 22 May 1846

Coolidge Administrator of the Estate of JS v. Heirs of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 22 October 1846

Ferris Administrator of the Estate of JS, 1848–1852

Ferris Administrator of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Probate Court, 1848–1852

Green v. Ferris Administrator of the Estate of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 19 April 1849

Ferris Administrator of the Estate of JS v. Heirs of JS, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 12 June 1852

Kimball v. L. C. Bidamon et al., Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, 15 June 1852

United States v. Joseph Smith III et al., U.S. Circuit Court for the District of IL, 17 July 1852

Iowa Estate

Moffet Administrator of the Estate of JS, 1844–circa 1846

Moffet Administrator of the Estate of JS, Des Moines Co., Iowa Territory, Probate Court, 1844–1846

Moffet Administrator of the Estate of JS v. Ross, First Judicial District Court of Iowa Territory, Des Moines Co., 12 May 1846

Ohio Estate

Holcomb Administrator of the Estate of JS, 1860–1865

Holcomb Administrator of the Estate of JS, Lake Co., OH, Probate Court, 1860–1865

Rounds for the use of the State of Ohio as well as Himself v. JS, Geauga Co., OH, Court of Common Pleas, 31 October 1860

Holcomb Administrator of the Estate of JS v. Widow and Heirs of JS, Lake Co., OH, Probate Court, 18 April 1862

Appendixes

Joseph Smith as a Judge

Joseph Smith and Civil Litigation

Joseph Smith and the Criminal Justice System

The Nauvoo Municipal Court and the Writ of Habeas Corpus